Jack Hale to compete at the Ballarat Gift

After securing record numbers for this year’s Ballarat Gift, the event will be headlined by an Australian athlete returning from from injury. Here is what we know.

One of the fastest sprinters in the country is set to return at the Ballarat Gift in what is shaping to be one of the biggest events in years.

Tasmanian Jack Hale has been included in the entry list for the Gift, which will be held on Sunday at City Oval.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games 4x100m competitor has been on the sidelines in recent months but will have a crack at the event, which was last year won by Ballarat’s Cooper Sherman.

“He rang up and said ‘I want to run’,” Ballarat Athletic Club and organiser Andrew Hoffmann said.

“He’s off two metres in the Gift, which is probably a good mark for him.

“He’s only got to be three quarters fit I’d say to nearly take it out.”

Jack Hale will race in Ballarat after training in Melbourne. Picture: Chris Kidd

Hale is not the closest competitor to scratch with world beach sprint champion Michael Hanna taking the honour running off 1.75m.

Hanna won the 2020 Gift.

Others in contention include Jake Ireland (3.75m) and Jesse McKenna (2.75).

In the women’s, Ruby Crisp returns to defend her title from a 13.75m handicap.

She will be joined by 2013 winner and Ballarat’s Holly Dobbyn who is running from a 6.75m handicap.

Hoffmann said it was her first major event in two years after injury setbacks but she would still be one to watch.

2015 Stawell Gift winner Grace O’Dwyer will run from the longest distance with a 3.75m handicap.

Hoffmann said the event had record numbers, eclipsing the previous best in 2014.

He added the strong numbers came from not only a boost in Gift entrants but competitor numbers rising in other events.

“The junior boys and girls gift is the richest one in Australia,” he said.

“They are racing for 1500 dollar each.

“So there’s 30 or 40 of those number who propped it up.

“The 550m masters, people over 35, is also really well supported.

“And the gift numbers are also up from previous.

“It’s those three events which really put us over the number, which we are quite proud of.”

The Gift starts on Saturday and finishes on Sunday.

Entry is a gold coin donation with the event to also be livestreamed on Kayo.

Originally published as Jack Hale to compete at the Ballarat Gift